Game in Westerville; B-W Advances to "Final Four"
BEREA, OHIO Sophomore forward Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) scored a career-high 41 points, including the game-winning basket with 1.2 seconds and grabbed 13 rebounds tonight, (Wednesday, February 23, 2005) as Baldwin-Wallace College upsets Otterbein College in overtime, 78-76, in an Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal game at the Rike Center in Westerville.
With its win, B-W is now 18-8 and will play Mount Union in the OAC Final Four on Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m. This was B-W's first win against Otterbein in Westerville since 1998 when the Yellow Jackets defeated the Cardinals, 83-80, in the OAC Championship game. With the loss, Otterbein ends their season at 17-9.
In the first half, there were nine lead changes and four ties before Otterbein went on a 10-2 run in the final 4:20, caped by six points by senior forward Scott Hadley. The Cardinals led by as many as seven points in the first half, including 39-32 at the intermission.
In the second half, Otterbein built its lead to as many as 12 points at 49-37 with 13:18 left in the game when senior guard Mark Church made two free-throws. The Yellow Jackets then outscored the Cardinals 33-21 and tied the game with 21.6 seconds left when freshman guard Tyler Sekerak (Corry, Pa./ Corry) made the front end of a two-shot foul. Otterbein senior guard Tony Borgese had two chances to win the game in the final 2.6 seconds but missed both shots.
In overtime, the game was tied at 72-72, 74-74, 76-76, when Tori Davis scored the game-winner. Hadley had a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer that was off its mark.
Joining Tori Davis in double figures for B-W was his older brother, senior forward Thad Davis (Elyria/Open Door) who scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Otterbein had three players score in double figures led by senior forward Scott Hadley with 20 points. Church scored 16, sophomore guard Dequan Owens scored 13 and sophomore Neil Hohman added 10.
With Thad Davis' 23 points and seven rebounds tonight, he now has 1,876 career points and 968 rebounds and moves ahead of B-W standout Shawn McCormack (1999-03) to rank third all-time in scoring and fourth in rebounding.
If top-seeded John Carroll University defeats eighth-seeded Wilmington College tonight in University Heights, then JCU is the host for the OAC Final Four on Friday and Saturday. Semifinal games on Friday are at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. The 2005 OAC Championship Game is on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
Game Notes vs. Otterbein
The sixth-seeded BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE YELLOW JACKET men's basketball team will travel to Westerville, Ohio to play the third-seeded Otterbein College Cardinals on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. The game will be played in the Rike Center at 7:30 p.m. The winner will advance to play the winner of the second-seeded Capital University and seventh-seeded Mount Union College game in the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 25.
RADIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College campus radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM, broadcasts all home and away Yellow Jacket games both live and over the College internet Web site. The pregame show on radio starts 15 minutes prior to game time. For more information regarding B-W basketball broadcasts, please visit the B-W internet Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.
BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE
LOCATION: Berea, Ohio
NICKNAME: Yellow Jackets
CONFERENCE: Ohio Athletic
2004-2005 RECORD: 17-8
OAC RECORD: 10-8
LAST GAME: Lost to Capital, 95-93 in 2 O.T., on Feb. 19 in Berea
HEAD COACH: Steve Bankson
B-W RECORD: 362-298
YEAR AT B-W: 26th
CAREER RECORD: 40 yrs./ 643-414
LAST MEETING: Otterbein won, 88-75, in Westerville on Feb. 5, 2005
SERIES STREAK: OC, four straight
SERIES RECORD: OC, 49-35
NEXT GAME: OAC Final Four on Feb. 25
OTTERBEIN COLLEGE
LOCATION: Westerville, Ohio
NICKNAME: Cardinals
CONFERENCE: Ohio Ahletic
2004-2005 RECORD: 17-8
OAC RECORD: 12-6
LAST GAME: Lost to Mt. Union, 64-59, on Feb. 19 in Westerville
HEAD COACH: Dick Reynolds
OC RECORD: 583-315
YEAR AT OC: 33rd
CAREER RECORD: same
The Pregame Notes -- The Baldwin-Wallace College Yellow Jacket men's basketball team begins 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament play by travelling to Westerville, Ohio to play the Otterbein Cardinals in the first round. The winner advances to the OAC semifinals on Friday, Feb. 25.
The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a 17-8 overall and 10-8 OAC record following its 95-93 double overtime loss to Capital University in Berea on Saturday, Feb. 19. The loss was B-Ws fifth in its last six games and dropped the Yellow Jackets into sixth place and the number six seed.
Otterbein enters the game also with a 17-8 overall record and was 12-6 during the OAC regular season to finish third and earn the number three seed. The Cardinals last played on Saturday, Feb. 19 when they lost to Mount Union College, 64-59, in Westerville. Otterbein has lost two of its last three games.
The Baldwin-Wallace Versus Otterbein College Series-- This is the 85th all-time meeting between Baldwin-Wallace College and Otterbein College in mens basketball. Otterbein leads the series between the two schools, 49-35, including four straight victories and two this season. The Cardinals defeated the Yellow Jackets, 65-63, in Berea on December 4, 2004 and 88-75 on February 5, 2005 in Westerville. The last B-W win came on February 22, 2003 when the Jackets beat the Cardinals, 76-72, in Berea.
The Division III National Poll -- Both teams come into this game unranked.
The Quarterfinal Games in the OAC Tournament -- In the other OAC quarterfinal games, top-seed John Carroll University (20-4) hosts number eight-seed Wilmington College (10-15) in University Heights, second-seed Capital University (16-8, 12-6) hosts number seven-seed Mt. Union College (13-12) in Bexley and fourth -seed Ohio Northern University (14-11) hosts number five-seed Muskingum College (16-9) in Ada. All four games begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Baldwin-Wallace College Starters -- Look for veteran Yellow Jackets Head Coach Steve Bankson to start 64 senior two-time All-OAC forward Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School), his brother, 64 sophomore All-OAC forward Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School). At the point guard will be 511 senior Academic All-OAC player Tom Harrington (North Royalton/ Parma Heights Holy Name) and at the wing will be 60 junior All-OAC player Keith Aufmuth (Brooklyn). Rounding out the starters will be either 62 sophomore guard Nick Meyer (Mentor), 60 freshman Tyler Sekerak (Corry, Pa./ Corry Area), 511 freshman guard Brendan Schuler (Fairview Park) or 65 sophomore wing Matt Marks (Boardman). Thad Davis tops the team in scoring with 20.5 points per game, grabs 12.2 rebounds per game and is canning 59.9 percent of his field goals (191-of-319). Tori Davis is second in scoring at17.7 ppg., second with 8.5 rpg., 55 blocked shots and 21 steals, and is shooting 59.0 percent from the floor (164-of-278). is third in scoring at 10.2 ppg., first with 45 treys and is second with 83 assists. Harrington is fourth in scoring at 9.1 ppg., first with 152 assists, second with 34 three-pointers and leads the OAC in assist-to-turnover ratio. Meyer scores 3.7 ppg., and has 15 three-pointers. Marks is averaging 5.1 ppg. and has 15 three-pointers. Schuler is averaging 3.7 ppg. and has 45 assists and 11 three-pointers. Sekerak is scoring 3.6 ppg., has 33 assists, is second on the team with 22 steals and has canned 15 three-pointers. Also off the bench, look for Bankson to play 64 sophomore forward Chad Clark (Fremont/ Ross) and 65 junior forward Charod Hale (Akron/Kenmore),
Otterbein Probable Starters -- Look for veteran Head Coach Dick Reynolds to start 60 senior Tony Borghese at the point guard position. At the wings, look for 61 sophomore DeQuan Owens and 62 transfer Mark Church to start. On the inside, 65 senior Scott Hadley and 62 junior Kevin King to start. Hadley tops the Cardinals in scoring at 13.7 ppg. and is first with 7.1 rpg. He has canned 123-of-218 field goal attempts (56.4 percent). Church, is second in scoring at 13.3 ppg., shoots 57.4 percent from the floor and has 34 steals. Owens is third in scoring at 11.6 ppg. and has 65 assists, 25 steals and 13 three-pointers. Borghese scores 10.3 ppg. and tops Otterbein with 48 three pointers and 118 assists. King scores 8.4 ppg., is second with 6.0 rpg. and shoots a team-leading 61.7 percent from the floor. One big loss for Otterbein was that of 67 junior forward Tyler Ousley, who made an impact in the first meeting between the two teams. At the time of his injury, Ousley was scoring 7.6 ppg., topped the Cardinals with 8.0 rpg. and 64 percent field goal shooting accuracy and had 16 blocked shots. Off the bench, look for 60 freshman guard Ross Banaszak (4.5 ppg. and 1.2 rpg.), Hohman (6.2 ppg. and 4.3 rpg.), Ross (8.2 ppg. and 6.4 rpg.) and 61 freshman guard Eric Murphy (5.2 ppg.) all to see quality minutes. In addition, 62 freshman guard Scott Cores (2.9 ppg.), and 68 sophomore center Greg Cooper (0.6 ppg.) to play.
In the First Meeting Between B-W and Otterbein, on December 4, 2004 in Berea: Otterbein -- 65, Baldwin-Wallace -- 63 -- In the first meeting this season between B-W and Otterbein, on De. 4 in Berea, the Cardinals won, 65-63. Sophomore forward Tori Davis led B-W in scoring with 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior forward Thad Davis had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds and senior point guard Tom Harrington had 10 points. Otterbein had four players score in double digits, led by senior forward Scott Hadley and senior guard Mark Church with 11 points each and sophomore guard DeQuan Owens and junior center Tyler Ousley each scored 10. Church and Ousley each had five blocked shots and Church had a team-high seven rebounds.
In Second Meeting on Feb. 5, 2005 in Westerville: Otterbein -- 88, Baldwin-Wallace -- 75-- In the second meeting between B-W and Otterbein, the Cardinals defeated the Yellow Jackets, 88-75, in Westerville and at the Rike Center on Feb. 5. Senior forward Thad Davis had a game-high 30 points to lead B-W and he was joined in double figures by sophomore forward Tori Davis with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Otterbein placed six players in double digits as sophomore guard DeQuan Owens led the Cardinals with 14 points. Senior forward Scott Hadley had a game-high 12 rebounds. The cardinals canned 10-of-16 three-pointers and outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 43-33, to key the win
In B-Ws Last Game on Saturday, Feb. 19 Versus Capital in Berea: Capital -- 95, B-W -- 93 in Double Overtime -- In B-Ws last game, a 95-93 double overtime loss to Capital University, the Yellow Jackets lost for the fifth time in the last six games. Despite the loss, senior forward Thad Davis had game-highs of 32 points and 11 rebounds. In addition, junior guard Keith Aufmuth had a career-high 26 points and sophomore forward Tori Davis had 18 points and eight caroms.
Yellow Jacket Chatter
Senior Thad Davis is Among B-W Greats -- With his 1,853 career points, Thad Davis is fourh on College the all-time scoring list. Thad also has 961 career rebounds and is fourth on that all-time list. Thad also has become the schools all-time leader in blocked shots this season. With his 49 blocks this season, he now has 179 for his career and surpassed former B-W All-American Kevin Braaten (1993-1997) who had 169 in his stellar career. Braaten is also is the schools second all-time leading scorer with 1,867 career points.
Senior Tom Harrington Also Among All-Time Leaders -- Tom Harrington is fourth all-time in assists with 402 in his career. Harrington has led the OAC in assists the past two years with 139 a year ago and his current total of 152. Tom is just 12 assists shy of setting a school-record for assists in a single-season. The record holder is former B-W Academic All-American and current Garfield Trinity High School Head Coach Wayne Bilinovic (1986-1990) who set the record with 158 assists. Harrington is also a finalist for this years ESPN/ Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year award. He is just one of three Division III finalist.
Tori Davis Within Three Blocks of a Record -- Sophomore forward Tori Davis, Thads younger brother, has 55 blocked shots this season and is within three of tying Kevin Braatens (1993-96) school single-season record. Tori had a career-high-tying eight blocked shots in a game last week against Ohio Northern University in Ada.
Five Double Their Pleasure This Year -- Five Yellow Jackets, Thad Davis and Tori Davis, Keith Aufmuth, Tom Harrington and Brendan Schuler have all recorded a double-double this year. Thad and Tori Davis lead the way with 20 and 10, respectively, and have done it with points and rebounds. Harrington, Aufmuth and Schuler have all done it once each and by way of points and assists.
Bankson is the Winningest B-W Basketball Coach -- With his 362 victories at Baldwin-Wallace, Yellow Jacket Head Coach Steve Bankson is the winningest coach in school history. He is 362-298 in 26 years at B-W. Bankson has a career mark of 643-414 in 40 years overall, including a 232-90 mark in 12 seasons at Lorain (County) Community College and a 49-25 marks in three years at the high school level.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please visit the Baldwin-Wallace Athletics website at www.bw.edu/athletics for up to date results and statistics. For further inquiries, please contact B-W SID Kevin Ruple by phone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. For more Yellow Jacket men's basketball information, please contact Head Coach Steve Bankson by phone at (440) 826-2039, by FAX at (440) 826-2192 or via e-mail at sbankson@bw.edu.
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